CIAC (Connecticut) bans on field shooting

The CIAC has banned photographers from the field for all softball/baseball tournaments. This ruling is for ALL photographers, regardless of credentials.If you have a tournament game at a field with high fences, bring something to stand on.

Mike R wrote in post #12578205If you have a tournament game at a field with high fences, bring something to stand on.

Didn't all of the CIAC finals end yesterday? Or is this just a heads up for future years?

I shot 2 of the CIAC semis last week and yes, we stayed off the field.

The higher perspective bothered me more than the fence. I like shooting from inches off the field... the highest I usually go is the height of a fully-collapsed monopod. Plus it helps get the eyes from under the caps and helmets.

Even though I tucked myself in a corner away from the fans' viewing area or on the stairwells with the other togs, it was still a constant stream of chat and disruption from the passers-by.

Kevin (DC Fan), no one is suggesting that taking pictures TTF/TTN/OTF can't be done. And as you demonstrated, there's not much to it with a small handheld Rebel and a mega-multi-zoom 18-300 f/5.6 lens from the seats... especially if you limit yourself to a spot tangent to your position and wait for any slight hint of action to happen in front of your lens. But when you have a large lens and a heavier body, it becomes a little more cumbersome to follow the action at ALL spots on the field, with a perspective better than the ticket holders are accustomed to seeing.

And when you have a couple of lenses and a couple of bodies, it's a lot easier to set your backup gear off to the side in the photo well or dugout. Not as practical or appropriate to do that in the fans' seating area or walkways.

Tighter regulation of access to high school events is a constant threat. Building cooperative relationships with those responsible for the event is our best course of action to preserve the access we have.

Be invisible, friendly, helpful, and don't become the next headline by interfering with the action.

clarence wrote in post #12579466Even though I tucked myself in a corner away from the fans' viewing area or on the stairwells with the other togs, it was still a constant stream of chat and disruption from the passers-by.

And when you have a couple of lenses and a couple of bodies, it's a lot easier to set your backup gear off to the side in the photo well or dugout. Not as practical or appropriate to do that in the fans' seating area or walkways.

+1 And if you ignore them when they talk to you, they think you're rude.

Zivnuska wrote in post #12581048Tighter regulation of access to high school events is a constant threat. Building cooperative relationships with those responsible for the event is our best course of action to preserve the access we have.

Be invisible, friendly, helpful, and don't become the next headline by interfering with the action.

The ban was after a newspaper photographer got hit in at a softball semi final. I don't know if it was the actual reason for the ban but it was at the next game were we were told.

dwarrenr wrote in post #12581348See if they'll let you shoot out of the dugout. That usually works for me when the umpire says I can't shoot inside the fence.

We were told that that was off limits also. The umpires said they didn't care (they were familiar with all of us) but it was the governing body that implemented the ban. So next year I'll arrive even earlier than I did this year and stake out a decent spot at the fence. We got hit with this ban after the warm ups.

Just finished states and there were a lot of photographers on the field where they shouldn't of been, some did not have a state pass even though it says no state pass means no access - it just wasn't enforced. Few plain and simply had no clue what they were doing or thought they were special going where the rest of the media was not allowed. One girl sitting where the players are even though there was a photo pit to be in, one guy walking on the field during play saying someone said it was OK even though he was told at least 4-5 times to get off - then he heads into the dugout telling players to pose as the game is going on. There weren't many of them that were just lost, but they made it seem like there was with just how unprofessional they were. First time in a long time though the ones that did know what they were doing outweighed the ones who didn't.

Worst part is they do not have any waiver forms for the pass, someone gets hurt with no pass and no form - there goes a nice lawsuit against the state and the stadium for allowing them to be in harms way with nobody telling them they can't or shouldn't be there. Even after announcing several times to stay off the field still had parents ignoring it and walking out during the team photo, which wouldn't be a huge deal but it was set up so the difference was literally 5 inches closer, or even earlier in the day when we asked to let us take the official photo first and then parents can come in and take it they still didn't listen - it was not like they didn't have access.

So good, the more restrictions the better - within reasonable grounds that is, media should still have room in the photo pit if there is one, that's what they're there for...and of course the official photographer, if there is one, should be given access, but not in the players/coaches areas or in play (unless there is no pit, then it's a rule you mark off an area and it's dead ball if it goes in the marked off area)...and of course, no pass where you signed a liability waiver should always mean you're on the other side of the fence.

In our area it seems it is always up to the umpires (as it should be.) I've had umpires that give me full access and others that will only allow me to stay if the grounds keeper will mark of an area (as Mike said.) Rather then mark off the area I would get the coaches permission to shoot in the dugout. Since they know why I'm there that has always worked. I'm sure it would be different if there was more then just me there. I always try to do my best to stay out of the players way when in there, but not always possible. If there were another photog in there with me, it would be even harder and I would fully understand the coaches not allowing it.

For our HS Sectional games, the empires would not allow me to shoot inside the fence. Luckily the field they were playing at only had a 4' fence starting at the dugout and extending to the out field fence. So I was able to get the shots I needed with a 400mm. I would hate to have to shoot a BB game through the fence. What a royal PITA that would be.

I would be nice if you could have them install a couple of sections in the fence where a lens could fit through and still protect the fans. We can dream can't we? LOL

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